Ho\v to Work 

Your "Way 
ThfoughCoUege 




BY 

M. B. Andrews 

1921 




How to Work Your 

Way Through 

College 



Mf BrANDREWS, A. B., A. M. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF GREENSBORO 



Price: 75 cents, postpaid 

Greensboro, North Carolina 
192 I 



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,UV* 



COPYRIGHTED, 1921 

by 
M. B. ANDREWS 



m 27 1,921 
^CI.A622472 



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THE CONTRIBUTORS 

PAGE 

Frederick Archer, Superintendent Greensboro Schools . . 35 
T. W. Bickett, Former Governor of North Carolina .... 36 

C. E. Brewer, President of Meredith College 36 

E. D. Broadhurst, Board of Education, Greensboro 37 

E. C. Brooks, Superintendent Public Instruction 33 

J. E. Calfee, President of Asheville Normal 38 

J. S. Carr, Banker and Philanthropist, Durham 39 

H. W. Chase, President of State University 34 

P. P. Claxton, Former Commissioner of Education 32 

J. H. Cook, North Carolina College 39 

W. B. Cooper, Lieutenant-Governor 40 

B. B. Dougherty, President Appalachian Training School 41 

R. L. Flowers, Trinity College 42 

W. A. Harper, President of Elon College 44 

H. S. Hilley, Dean of Atlantic Christian College 44 

M. T. Hinshaw, President of Rutherford College 44 

C. H. Ireland, President of Odell Hardware Company .... 45 

J. E. Latham, President of J. E. Latham Company 46 

E. C. Lindeman, North Carolina College 46 

W. J. Martin, President of Davidson College 50 

L. S. Overman, United States Senator 51 

J. C. Peery, President of Lenoir College 52 

W. L. Poteat, President of Wake Forest College 53 

E. D. Pusey, Superintendent Durham Schools 54 

W. C. Riddick, President of State College, Raleigh 54 

G. T. Rowe, Editor, "North Carolina Christian Advocate" 55 

F. M. Simmons, United States Senator 56 

S. B. Turrentine, President, Greensboro College 57 

C. G. Vardell, President, Flora Macdonald College 57 

L. A. Williams, University of North Carolina 58 

J. N. Wills, Chairman, Board of E'ducation, Greensboro . . 60 

0. V. Woosley, Sunday-school Field Secretary 61 

J. C. Wooten, Presiding Elder, North Carolina Conference 62 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I. On the Highway 6 

II. The Great Decision 8 

III. A Test of Courage 9 

IV. The Morning After 11 

V. The Arithmetic of Life 13 

VI. A College Freshman 15 

VII. My First Vacation 17 

VIII. Fog and Sunshine 19 

IX. Nature : Human and Otherwise 21 

X. Root, Hog, or Die 24 

XI. Ticklish Business 25 

XII. My Senior Year — and After 27 

XIII. Your Move Now 30 

XIV. Some Concrete Suggestions 31 

XV. Men of Mark — and Their Message to You 32 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 



FOREWORD 

Can a young man work his way through college? Is it 
wise for him to undertake the task? Can a young woman 
work her way through college? Is it wise for her to under- 
take the task? 

The above are real questions that a large number of young 
people of both sexes have faced and Avill continue to face as 
long as poverty exists and education seems desirable. 

It is with a good deal of hesitation that one offers to the 
general public any kind of autobiographical material that 
records experiences less momentous than those resulting from 
participation in the European debacle or the Paris Peace 
Conference. But agreeing with Wilson that it is perhaps 
never wise to take counsel of one's fears, I have decided to 
disregard my feeling of hesitancy and issue this little 
pamphlet. 

The following pages contain both a straightforward story 
of the struggles I experienced in trying to work my way 
through Trinity College, Durham, North Carolina, and sev- 
eral strong letters of encouragement written by some of the 
ablest and most worthy citizens of our state. It is with the 
hope that this material may help some other young person 
in circumstances similar to mine — help that young person to 
resolve to secure a college education regardless of the cost — 
that I send this little book forth to the world. 

The Author. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 



ON THE HIGHWAY 

The Reverend John C. Wooten met me at the forks of the 
roads in my life and, perhaps unconsciously to himself, 
directed me into the right way. Here are the facts : 

At the age of fourteen, I entered school the first time. 
Several years previously, I had lost my mother. I was the 
fourth of eight living children. 

At the age of sixteen, when I met up with Mr. Wooten, 
I knew how to read and cipher, and was ambitious for an 
education. But the odds were against me. Our family was 
a large one, and my father was about as poor as, it is pos- 
sible for a man to be; and, ambitious though he was for his 
children, he frequently stated that he did not even hope ever 
to be able to do more for us than to give each of us a high 
school education. 

At the time I came into contact with Mr. Wooten, I was 
going to school, clerking in my father's small grocery store, 
preparing the firewood at home, and assisting in the prepara- 
tion of the meals. But, personally, I had only one source of 
income: the treasurer of the Methodist church to which I 
belonged was paying me $1.00 a week for my services as 
janitor. 

Mr. Wooten, professor of Biblical Literature at Trinity 
College, was to deliver a sermon-address at our church as a 
part of our school commencement exercises. The house was 
crowded, and I suppose the address was a most eloquent one, 
though I do not remember a word of it. After the address, 
the preacher stood at the front door and shook hands with 
his hearers as they passed out. 

Finally, all had gone except one boy: I was pausing 
behind in order that I might, as janitor, switch off the lights 
and lock the door. As I was reaching up to take hold of the 
switch, the preacher laid his hand on my shoulder and asked : 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 7 

''Young man, what college are you attending?" 

Naturally, it hurt my pride to have to answer, ' ' I am not 
attending college; I have not finished school here yet." 

"Well, when you do finish, come up to Trinity," he said, 
and was gone. 

I am unable to understand it yet, but those words, spoken 
as they were and at the time they were, inspired me to go to 
Trinity College some day — and years later, I went. 



8 How TO Work Your Wat Through College 

II 

THE GEEAT DECISION 

Mr. Wooten caused me to decide some day to enter Trinity 
College. But there is a vast deal of difference between decid- 
ing to do a thing and in deciding how to do it. For at least 
three years, the following question occupied a very prominent 
place in my mind : 

"How am I going to get the money with which to pay 
my expenses while in Trinity College?" 

I knew I was going; I knew where I was going; and I 
knew when I was going. But I did not know how I was 
going to get the money. 

Let me be frank about this business. All of my time was 
taken, and practically every cent I earned was turned into 
the family treasury. Finally, one Sunday afternoon in the 
spring of 1909, I reached a great decision. 

The weather being rainy, I was in my bedroom pondering 
over books and magazines. In some way, the idea was sug- 
gested to me that in the following year the United States 
government would have the census taken. The answer to 
my difficult question came to me like a flash: I would work 
my way through college by selling maps based on the 1910 
census ! 

Perhaps the idea was suggested to me by a large map 
hanging on the wall of my room with North and South Caro- 
lina on one side and the United States on the other. This 
was based upon the census of 1900: Isn't it strange that, 
though this map had been in my home nearly ten years, the 
idea of selling maps had never suggested itself to me before? 



How TO Work Your Way Through Col.lege 



III 

A TEST OF COURAGE 

At last, my high school struggles had ended, and I was 
now prepared — on conditions, of course — to enter any stand- 
ard college of North Carolina. 

I had already stood with the other members of my class 
before the camera and had had my picture taken ; I had pre- 
pared and delivered, in the most eloquent language at my 
command, something that I called my graduating oration, 
entitled "Industrial Co-operation." I had even gone up to 
Goldsboro and delivered my speech before a great mass of 
people who had assembled to attend the county commence- 
ment exercises. 

I remember all of the thrills I experienced ; I recall the 
pleasant words one of the judges said to me after I lost in 
the contest ; and I remember how impossible it was for me 
to sleep that night ; a million unfamiliar faces were before me. 

Since I am trying to tell this story as it actually happened, 
I am going to say that the expense of that trip was paid 
with borrowed money and that the suit I wore belonged to one 
of my brothers. I was then twenty years old, a high school 
graduate, without a position, and with not a cent to my 
name. 

For a few days, I worked at the store. Finally, on a 
Sunday night, I had a talk with my father. I told him that 
I had decided to strike out for myself that summer and try 
to earn some money with which to enter college. 

My father was opposed to my plans. Of course he be- 
lieved in education, and he told me that he wanted me to go 
to college. But he insisted from the first that I should not 
try to go off that fall. It was my duty, he urged, to stay 
with him and work at least one more year. 



10 How TO WoKK Your Way Through ColliEGe 

I appreciated his argumeiits, and I wanted to do what he 
said; but I conld hardly help muttering the words of a Lad 
of another story, when he said to his chiding parents: 

' ' Wist ye not that I must be about my Father 's business ? ' ' 

I was desperate. Though I had always been, I think, an 
obedient son, I frankly told my father that I had come to the 
parting of the ways and that, in spite of his objections, I was 
determined to go to work for myself on the following morn- 
ing. The last words my father said that night were these : 

"If you fail to open the store tomorrow morning, this 
will be your last night under my roof. This is final— and 
I don't want to hear another word from you." 



How TO Work Your Way Througpi College 11 

lY 
THE MORNING AFTER 

Surprise is a mild word to use in describing the way 
I felt when I woke up next morning. Instead of having 
been aroused at five o'clock as usual, I had been allowed to 
sleep until the sun was an hour high, and one of my brothers 
had been sent to the store. Neither my father nor I has 
until this day mentioned the conversation which passed 
between us on the Sundaj^ night before. 

So far as I remember, that is the first time my father 
ever made to me a promise of punishment that he did not 
keep. I have often wondered what process of thinking his 
miud went through in reaching the conclusion he reached. 
But I never felt quite free to ask him. This, however, I 
know: he did not give in because of my apparent stubborn- 
ness — he was too brave for that. 

The chances are that, after he had hushed me up, his 
mind took him back to his childhood, to the days of his own 
great yearning for an education : he then understood, no 
doubt, perhaps better than he ever had before, just how his 
owm yearning had carried over into the life of his child. I 
say this because of his nobility of character, and because I 
know that, while we children were growing up, he laid almost 
as much stress on the value of an education as he did on 
anything else — the motto of his life being, I think, purity of 
heart, industry in labor, and education. 

After breakfast, I went down to the local hardware store, 
bought me a good hammer for which I promised to pay later, 
walked up to the package factory operated by the Mount Olive 
Manufacturing Company, and made application for a posi- 
tion as Irish potato barrel maker. Though I knew but little 
about this work, I was determined to make the best of it. 
Freciuently I mashed my fingers, but soon I was doing reason- 
ably well. 

As a matter of fact, my ability to drive nails increased 



12 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

so rapidly that, within two or three weeks, I was making from 
two to three dollars a day — as much as a good carpenter 
earned at that time. 

I did another thing in that factory that I have always 
been proud of. I helped to popularize one particular piece 
of work on an Irish potato barrel that had always been unpop- 
ular among barrel makers. It consisted of what we called 
''putting in the inside bands." Up until that time, two 
banders were needed for every barrel form; soon, only one 
bander was needed for each barrel form, but I am told that 
two are again needed now. 

It was not unusual for some of the machinery to get 
broken or to get out of repair ; so I generally took along in 
one of my overall pockets some book that I wanted to study. 
Yes, the boys tried to tease me about it at first ; but, as I 
paid no attention to them, they soon learned to take my 
reading for granted, and said no more about it. 

Often, while I was driving nails at a very rapid rate of 
speed, my mind was busy formulating plans for my future 
college career. I decided one day to write to President Few 
and tell him about my situation and ask him if he thought 
it possible for me to work my way through. 

Doctor Few answered that he thought such a thing pos- 
sible, informing me that he had turned my letter over to Mr. 
W. Gr. Matton, who was at that time secretary of the Greater 
Trinity Club. After learning from me that I knew some- 
thing of bookkeeping, I having kept my father's books while 
working in the store, he referred me to Mr. Robert F. Perry, 
manager of the Perry- Wood Company, prominent grocers 
of Durham. 

After brief correspondence, Mr. Perry suggested that I 
go to see him, which I did. Within ten or fifteen minutes, 
he offered me a position as bookkeeper, requesting me to start 
to work at once. 

This was about the second week in August, 1910. I went 
back home, boxed up some books and magazines, spent for 
clothes a good deal of the money I had earned making barrels 
and cantaloupe crates, rushed back to Durham, and went to 
work at $42.50 a month. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 13 

V 

THE ARITHMETIC OF LIFE 

Life is like an arithmetic ; it is full of perplexing prob- 
lems. I thought when I decided years before to enter college 
after finishing high school, that perhaps the greatest problem 
in life had been solved. But that same question had to be 
faced once more even after I reached Durham in the summer 
of 1910. 

I had gone to work as faithfully as I could with Mr. 
Perry and the other members of his concern. It may be that 
I had been working too faithfully, for about a week before 
college opened, Mr. Perry begged me to give up my idea of 
entering college that fall and sign a contract with him for 
a year. He argued that he would pay me enough to enable 
me to lay some money aside so that I could do my college work 
a year later without having to trouble myself about finances. 

To be perfectly frank, his proposition appealed to me. 
For the life of me, I could not see how I was going to earn 
enough during my spare time to pay my expenses, and I 
could not see how I was going to have spare time enough to 
do much real work anyway. As a matter of fact, I came 
very near giving up during registration week. 

The situation looked rather hopeless. I had been 
forced to give up a position that promised to pay me a good 
salary and, on the morning of the opening day, had gone up 
to the college for the opening exercises. Several of the pas- 
tors of the city spoke words of welcome to the new students, 
and a long string of announcements was made by President 
Few. The whole program lasted something less than two 
hours. During the entire day, I could not help thinking of 
how much I could have earned had I been working. 



14 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

But Mr. Perry allowed me to continue my work during 
my spare time, for which he agreed to pay me $25.00 a month. 
As things were then, I concluded that I could live; so I 
decided to make the best of the situation, work as hard as I 
could, and spend at least one year in college. Beyond that, 
I could not see — and I did not try to. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 15 

VI 
A COLLEGE FRESHMAN 

Within thirty days after I enrolled as a college fresh. 
man, I was getting along pretty well, as it seemed to me. By 
that time, my daily schedule had been worked out — a task 
that only a college freshman can really appreciate. My work 
at the store was. moving along, and Mr. Perry seemed to be 
pleased. In short, though I felt somewhat overworked, I 
was really doing well, and I was thoroughly happy. 

It may be worth while to state my daily program. I 
got up at seven o'clock, dressed quickly, rode a bicycle from 
Seeman Street in North Durham, to lower Mangum in cen- 
tral Durham, where I ate breakfast. From there I went to 
the college, where I was scheduled to be at 8 :30 so as to 
attend chapel exercises. My last class closed at one o'clock; 
so I went from the college immediately back to Mangum 
Street for lunch. 

By something like two-fifteen each day, I had walked a 
mile and a quarter, had eaten some lunch, and was at the 
office doing my work for the afternoon. 

The store closed at six o'clock. After supper I always 
went immediately to the house, where I arrived around seven- 
fifteen, and went to work on my lessons,. Twelve o'clock was 
supposed to be my regular bedtime, but I went to bed more 
often at one o'clock, or later, perhaps, than I did at twelve. 

I used to wonder why the Great Teacher found it neces- 
sary to advise that we get the beams out of our own eyes 
before attempting to locate the motes in the eyes of others. 
But I think I know why now. Robert Burns used to say that 
man was made to mourn; and possibly he was, but it seems 
to me equally as true that man was made to walk blindly 
through this world. 

Doctor Boyd called me aside one day and cautioned me 
about overwork and underexercise, and Avarned me that, 



16 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

before I knew it, I might suffer a nervous breakdown. I hope 
I did not laugh in his face, but I certainly felt that he 
knew little of what he was talking about; I was as strong 
as an ox, I thought, and as tough as a plantation mule. 

But the break eame all too soon, and it was very nearly 
complete. I suffered from a severe attack of nervous indi- 
gestion. Whereas I had previously thought I could digest 
anything up to crushed rock and horseshoe nails, I really 
found out that I was unable to digest two grains of rice. 

The old proverb says that one extreme follows another, and 
I believe it. Though I was as happy as Shelley's skylark a 
few days before, now I was hopelessly despondent. Had Job 
been living in my neighborhood, I am sure that he would have 
tried to cheer me up. I remember writing some such sen- 
tence as this in a private notebook I was keeping : ' ' Whereas 
my future used to seem as bright as polished diamonds, now it 
seems as dark as an ocean of black ink at midnight when all 
the sky is covered over with a blanket of smutty clouds." 
I could think of just two things to do : recover my strength, 
or go home. To go home was unthinkable and impossible; 
for to do that was to admit failure, and it was infinitely 
harder to admit failure than to fail. 

You can imagine the rest. I wrote to a thousand patent 
medicine houses, consulted several doctors, wrote to the State 
Board of Health, and drank in enough self-pity to kill an 
elephant. 

One of the things that worried me was that the doctors 
I consulted did not seem to take me very seriously. They 
suggested that I be. rather careful with my diet, that I 
exercise freely, and that I secure enough sleep — all of which 
seemed to be tame treatment for a man in my condition. But 
by following the advice given, I was soon all right again. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 17 

VII 
MY FIEST VACATION 

The end of my first year in college came all too soon. I 
had forty-five dollars when I went to Durham; and I had 
about five dollars when I got ready to leave. Giving up my 
position with IMr. Perry, I went home to spend the summer. 
I was badly worn, and my health was poor. I lay around 
home two or three weeks before recovering sufficient strength 
and courage to go to work. 

I had thought a good deal about my work for the summer 
and had often wondered what to do. Of course I remem- 
bered my decision more than a year before to sell maps. But 
I knew nothing at all about selling maps, and I did not feel 
qualified to face the public. 

I do not know yet why it was that I had such a strong 
indisposition to approach people. Perhaps it was partly due 
to my lack of training ; and yet I had spent several years in 
my father's store and had come into contact with hundreds, 
if not thousands, of people. It may be that my reluctance 
was partly due to my physical condition, which was consid- 
erably below normal. Anyway, I almost felt that I had 
rather be burned alive than to go before the public with any 
kind of proposition — to say nothing of maps. 

It was almost nine o'clock, and the sun was half way to 
the center of the heavens, when one of my classmates walked 
into my bedroom where I was sleeping and announced that 
he had come to get me to go out and sell maps with him ! 
Dressing rapidly and eating a bite of breakfast, I went do\ATi 
to the store, and he and I drank a milkshake apiece. At 
ten-thirty, we turned our faces toward the country — map 
salesmen ! 

Would you believe it? Between that hour and sunset 
that day, he and I together took orders for twenty-three maps, 
and our profit on each sale was one dollar. 



18 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

I never shall forget how our hearts throbbed as we ap- 
proached our first customer; as we approached a brotherly- 
farmer at the noon hour and asked that we might be taken 
in for dinner; and as we made application just about sunset 
for a bed in which to spend the night. 

The details come back to me as clearly as if I had seen 
them all yesterday. The man with whom I took dinner was 
tall and skinny and the wife was short, stout, and jovial. 
She had recently returned from some hospital where she 
had undergone a serious operation. 

Let me change the subject. It seems impossible that 
the walk should have cured my indigestion, but who could 
think of ailments before such a dinner? Cabbage stewed 
with country ham and corn meal dumplings; biscuits as 
large as a coffee cup, buttermilk, peach preserves, home- 
made pound cake, and huckleberry pie ! 

To make the story short, I cleared up approximately 
$150.00 on maps, collected and published in book form about 
fifty of my own rhymes under the title of "A School Boy's 
Poems, ' ' and sold four hundred copies of the book at twenty- 
five cents a copy. 

This is the story of what I accomplished during the sum- 
mer following ray first year in college. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 19 

VIII 

FOG AND SUNSHINE 

Sir Oliver Lodge and others are putting forth a desper- 
ate effort to get a vision into the other world, hoping to 
find out — to a certain extent, at least — what the future holds 
in store for man. But my private opinion is that the great 
Umpire of this universe made a wise decision when he ruled 
that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard" what the future 
holds in store for any man. 

I went back to college in the fall greatly rejuvenated in 
strength, high in hopes, and approximately one hundred dol- 
lars to my credit; and I went back to my same old position 
with Mr. Perry and his partners. 

Within six weeks, some of the partners in the concern 
sold out, and one of the new stockholders took over my posi- 
tion. I immediately moved to the college ; and to cut expenses, 
I made plans to do my own cooking and board myself. 

My kitchen outfit consisted of a $1.25 oil burner, a drink- 
ing glass, a bowl for cereals, a milk pitcher, salt, pepper, and 
sugar retainers, and two spoons. I bought me some toasted 
corn flakes, a twenty-two pound box of soda crackers, five 
pounds of sugar, half dozen cans of condensed milk, some oat- 
meal, and several cans of salmon ; with these supplies I began 
boarding myself. 

It was not long before the larger portion of my money 
was spent and my health was gone again; and, therefore, I 
felt like a lonesome fool. 

But the clouds soon began to clear away. I secured a 
a position in the office of the college as recorder of grades 
at twenty cents an hour; and I resolved to begin patroniz- 
ing a respectable boarding house, whether I might ever be 



20 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

able to secure an education and free myself of debt or not ! 
And that was a wise move ; for from that day forth I began 
to grow stronger physically and mentally — and began to go 
deeper and deeper into debt. 

At Christmas I gave up my work in the office, and became 
an assistant to Mr. Breedlove as a clerk in the library. The 
spring of 1912 found me finishing the work of the sophomore 
class, with practically all of my conditions worked off, with 
fair health, and with $250.00 worth of debts to my credit. 

The summer was before me. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 21 

IX 
NATURE: HUMAN AND OTHERWISE 

If there is any one idea in life that I have clung to with 
a stronger grip than to any other, it is that, with the right 
sort of man, the will is and ought to be the controlling force 
in life. I cannot remember when I did not believe in that 
principle ; and yet, circumstances wield a greater influence in 
the formation of character and in determining the work that 
one does than perhaps even the clearest thinkers realize. 

The experience I had during my first vacation convinced 
me that I did not want to try to sell maps again; I had no 
desire to go on the road in an effort to sell anything. What 
could I do? I wanted to return to college in the fall — I 
was determined to return. Still I was $250.00 in debt, was 
without a position, and had no other field of opportunity 
open to me. I simply had to sell maps — and I did it. 

In a great many respects, my work was decidedly pleas- 
ant and successful. Locating in Smithfield, I immediately 
formed the acquaintance of some of the splendid people there. 
Hundreds of people bought maps from me. Indeed, my 
efforts as a salesman were so successful that I induced one of 
my brothers to work with me, and I cleared up approximately 
$100.00 on the orders that he took alone. 

Perhaps I should tell two or three of my experiences 
during that summer. One Saturday morning about nine 
o'clock, I walked into the office of the superintendent of one of 
the local cotton mills. Within five minutes I had taken his 
order for a map. Feeling encouraged, I asked him for permis- 
sion to go into the spinning room and present my proposition 
to each of the workers, and he very kindly gave his consent. 
By about twelve o 'clock my orders had run up to thirteen ; my 
commission now being $1.28 on each sale, you can easily 
see how well I succeeded. 



22 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

That afternoon, after dinner, I put on my best clothes 
and loafed around the old town pump. While standing there 
observing the Saturday afternoon throng, I saw a man and 
woman approaching me, and I heard her say : 

' ' There he is now. ' ' Picture it — think of it ! The woman 
stepped up to me and said : 

"I want one of those maps, too. You took an order from 
every one of the men in the factory, but you failed to say a 
word to a single one of us women. I am a widow and have 
a little boy in school; and I am just as anxious for my boy 
to have a map as any man is for his boy to have one." 

Would you believe it? I took her order for one. 

Let me tell another experience. I had walked several 
miles out into the country, taking orders as I went along. 
About 9 :30 one morning, I met up with a big force of men 
who were repairing the public road. Calling the overseer 
aside, I took his order almost immediately ; I then asked that 
he allow me to present my proposition to the men working 
with him. He asked them to lay their tools down, told them 
to draw up close to me, and listen to what I had to say. 

Acting, I imagine, somewhat like an evangelist conduct- 
ing a meeting, I painted the picture of my map in glowing 
colors, and then asked each man who wanted one to hold up 
liis hand. Just at the right moment, the overseer came to my 
.assistance in these words : 

"Boys, what he says sounds like the truth to me; I have 
decided to take one, and I believe each of you will be glad 
to have one in your home." 

When night came I counted up and found that I had taken 
twenty-six orders that day. 

Perhaps I ought to tell one experience of a different nature. 

Like "B'r. Rabbit" in the "Uncle Remus" stories, I 
stopped for the night where night happened to take me. 

A rather old farmhouse was sitting back from the road 
in a big oak grove. Soon after supper the two small boys 
were sent to bed, and the grown young woman in the home — 
an orphan, who had been adopted years before — received 
company. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 23 

Being tired and uninterested, I went to my room, which 
was right next to the front porch. Well, I had heard of 
"billing and cooing" for a long time, but I had never heard 
the like before. 

The moon was shining in all of its beauty; the beetles 
were singing in the tops of the trees; and the young man 
and the young woman, behind the trailing vines on the front 
porch, were making noises familiar no doubt to all of the 
young people of the race. 

After a while, I went to bed, but not to sleep ; I will let 
you guess why. It was no use; I couldn't sleep. The only 
thing that I could do was to listen to the beetles and to the 
couple on the porch. It was a dreary night, one of the 
longest and most uncomfortable I have ever spent. The 
sun was up next morning before I finally, lying on the floor, 
dropped off to sleep for about a half hour. What became of 
the couple, I do not know ; but I iwould bet a map they 
married ! 

At the opening of college in the fall, I had paid my debts, 
and was about $150.00 ahead. 



24 How TO Work Your Way Through College 



X 



^'EOOT, HOG, OR DIE" 

Perhaps I should explain that the work I did in the library 
during one-half of my sophomore year, all of my junior year, 
and all of my senior year, did not pay me a cent in actual 
cash. I worked ten hours a week, at twenty cents an hour ; 
and the amount earned was credited on my expenses with 
the college. As I lived comfortably, it is easy to understand 
that I went rather deeply into debt. Though I do not think 
that I was extravagant in a single thing, I owed approxi- 
mately $350.00 at the end of my junior year. 

The members of the college faculty with whom I became 
intimately acquainted were very friendly to me. They helped 
me in more ways than I can mention. I never shall forget 
a letter President Few wrote me during my freshman year 
in which he spoke of my struggles in some such language as 
this: "I fully sympathize with you in the praiseworthy 
efforts you are putting forth to finance your own way through 
college." Also, the folks at home co-operated with me heart- 
ily. They boosted me in their letters, signed several notes 
with me, and did everything else they could to help me along. 
Yet, with it all, the conviction grew stronger and stronger 
upon me that the unknown writer was right when he said: 

"Root, hog, or die." 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 25 

XI 

TICKLISH BUSINESS 

By the end of my junior year, my destiny was fixed ; it 
was almost impossible even to think of doing anything else 
but to sell maps. 

I spent the summer in Person County, making Roxboro 
my headquarters. On the whole, my efforts were rather suc- 
cessful ; but I became painfully despondent at times. It 
was somewhat more difficult to make deliveries in Person 
County than it had been in the other counties where I had 
worked. Then, too, I was rather heavily in debt. 

When I reached Roxboro, I had less than $3.00 to my 
name, and I did not know a soul there. In some way, my 
courage nearly failed me in the very outset. I even spent three 
or four days in my room at the boarding house writing mel- 
ancholy verses before I went out and tried to take an order, 
I dreaded to start — dreaded it with a dread far more intense 
than the chap feels who, having prepared himself to go swim- 
ming in the early spring, has dipped his toes into the water 
and found it painfully cold. 

When I received the card from the express office notify- 
ing me that my first shipment of maps had arrived, collect 
on delivery, for $70.00 and express charges, I had, as I 
remember it, nineteen cents in my pocket — and not another 
cent anywhere else in the world. What did I do? What 
would you have done? I had taken a good many orders and 
had notified my customers as to my proposed deliveries, but 
I could not make the deliveries without the maps. How to 
get them — that was the question. 

I simply wrote a check on one of the banks at home, asked 
a young business man, who was boarding where I was, to 
cash it for me, took my maps from the express office, delivered 
them, deposited the money in a Roxboro bank, and sent home 



26 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

a check for deposit covering the amount of my bogus check. 
That was rather ticklish business, but it worked. 

Toward the end of the summer, I could see that my net 
profits were going to amount to a little more than $200.00 and 
that, therefore, I was going to have to return to college with 
at least $150.00 worth of debts still unpaid. Perhaps it was 
unworthy of me, but some strange and unpleasant thoughts 
passed and repassed through my mind. 

I never shall forget one experience. I had worked as 
hard as I could trying to make deliveries. But several of my 
customers had turned me down, and some few I could not 
find. Late in the afternoon, a heavy rain and thunderstorm 
came up rather quickly. Driving my horse at pretty high 
speed, I dashed into a neighbourly looking yard, and backed 
the buggy under a shelter; the horse was in the rain. 

The wind blew with great fierceness, twisting the fruit 
trees in the orchard before me until many of the branches 
were broken off; the rain poured down in drops as large as 
small marbles; and the lightning and thunder flashed and 
roared with an intensity I have never seen or heard equalled. 
Of course it was unworthy of me, but during that storm, 1 
almost secretly wished that a flash of lightning might end 
it all. 



How TO AVoRK Your Way Through College 27 

XII 
MY SENIOR YEAR — AND AFTER 

When I returned to college in the fall following the vaca- 
tion after my junior year, I was almost in sight of the goal 
I had set for myself years before. 

Though I had entered college in the fall of 1910 poorly 
prepared in all subjects and conditioned on modern languages 
and Latin, I was ambitious to graduate with honors; to win 
the orator's medal from the Columbia Literary Society, and 
to be elected president of the society. 

I cannot recall who inspired me to the ambition to gradu- 
ate with honors, but I do remember the man of my class who 
caused me to set my heart upon winning the orator's medal. 
He met me in my room one afternoon during the latter part 
of my junior year and requested me to enter the race. I told 
him that I had already given considerable thought to the 
matter, but that I had about decided not to undertake it, 
being rather certain that I could not possibly win. 

"Davis, I can't win the blooming thing, and it is useless 
to try." 

"What's the reason you can't?" he urged. 

"You know why, Davis; my middle name is failure. I 
wanted the freshman debater's medal, but you got that. 1 
studied for six weeks and then sat up all night and worked 
for the set of Shakespeare offered to the best sophomore 
debater, and you know who got that. 'Tubby' Boyd flunked 
me on my fall history ; I lost out week before last in the 
inter-society debate preliminary; Shelton made first place 
over me in the 'International Peace' contest; and I have 
been told that two dozen of the boys are going to try for the 
orator's medal; so, what's the use?" 

"Andrews, you make me sick. Let them try; but you 
can win if you will do it. What difference does it make if 



28 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

you did lose in those other contests? The experience you 
gained is what counts. 

"I will admit that the scout who won the set of Shakes- 
pere might possibly beat you if he'd try — I agree with you 
that he is the strongest speaker in our class. But he won't 
do it — he's too blamed lazy." 

"Well," I agreed, after two hours of that kind of talk 
from Davis, "I'll do my best." 

When college opened in the fall, there were, I think, fifteen 
of us in the race for the medal; but I feared only one of 
my opponents. As for him, I knew he could win if he would, 
but I thought he might not try hard enough. During the 
first sis months, he spoke practically every time I did, and he 
made a better impression each time than I did. But before 
much longer, he began to appear more seldom, and several 
of the other boys finally dropped out of the race. 

During the course of the year, my ambition to be elected 
president of the society was realized. Being in office when 
the year closed, it fell to my lot to instruct the treasurer 
to pay for the gold orator's medal that had been awarded to 
me by a vote of thirteen out of fifteen of the judges ! 

I acted as literary editor of the college magazine, "The 
Archive," during my senior year; and on commencement 
day, to my great satisfaction, my name was printed on the 
program along with the others who had been allowed to grad- 
uate with honors. 

The following morning I took an inventory of my pos- 
sessions : 

College diploma, a Bible, a gold medal, poor health, no 
position, and a debt of $750.00. 

No matter how I should have felt, I felt somewhat relieved, 
rather tired and baffled, humble in spirit, and in doubt as to 
my future career. 

Not many days thereafter, I secured a position as a school 
teacher at a salary of $92.50 a month, and I have been teach- 
ing ever since. 



How TO Work Your AVay Through College 29 

Today, my health is good ; my salary is reasonable ; I am 
proud of my position ; I am told that I have a good reputa- 
tion as a school man; and I have a family of my own — a 
faithful wife and two of the most delightful boys anyone 
ever saw! 

Has it been worth while? Yes, and a thousand times 
over. If I could retrace my steps, I would do as I did — only, 
I would be more careful as to my health. 



30 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

XIII 
YOUR MOVE, NOW 

You will have to decide for yourself whether or not to 
try to work your way through college. Here are some of the 
factors involved: 

1. Desire. — To succeed, you will have to want a college 
education more than you want anything else in the world. 

2. Willingness. — You will have to be willing to pay the 
full price, no matter how much it may cost. 

3. Initiative. — You will have to possess initiative ; that 
is, after deciding to go, you will have to go^ — to decide is 
not enough. 

4. Perseverance. — If you start, you will have to have 
the courage, the energy, and the patience to keep going, 
regardless of difficulties. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 31 

XIV 
SOME CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS 

I myself have known men to pay their way through col- 
lege in nearly all of the following ways : 

Borrow the money and pay it back after graduation ; run 
a college pressing club ; act as an agent for a laundry ; wait on 
a table ; work in some office ; work in the library ; run a con- 
fectionary stand ; act as postmaster ; work in some of the retail 
stores down town ; act as musician in a moving picture show ; 
clerk in a hotel; take subscriptions for magazines and other 
publications; write for newspapers; sell maps, Bibles, and 
other books during the vacations; do stenographic work and 
typewriting; coach preparatory students; and act as business 
manager for one or more of the college publications. 

If you really mean business, select the method of your 
choice; work out your plans with earnestness; go at it; and 
do not stop until you finish. 

Instead of being a disgrace, it is an honor to a man to 
work his way through college. Men who have done this are in 
practically every walk of life in this country to-day. 

Dr. P. P. Claxton, Commissioner of Education of the 
United States, is one of this number; and there are thou- 
sands of others less prominent who have done as he has. 

"Let's go." 



32 How TO Work Your Way Through College 



Men of Mark and their Message to You 

Just a word. 

The messages in the following pages are so true, so clear, 
and so helpful that, to me, it seems impossible for any sane 
young person to read them without being inspired and encour- 
aged. 

The writers have digged down into their hearts and lives 
in an effort to give to you the benefit of their experiences, and 
each one has done this "without money and without price." 

So let me take this occasion to thank the men whose mes- 
sages you now have the privilege of reading for co-operating 
with me so heartily in this enterprise ; and let me, also, thank 
the others who have been so kind as to encourage me to pre- 
pare and publish this little book. 

M. B. Andrews. 

May 21, 1921. 

DE. P. P. CLAXTON 

Dr. P. P. Claxton, former National Commissioner of Edu- 
cation, expresses his sentiments thus : 

"I am glad to know that you are getting together mate- 
rial to encourage boys and girls in school to go to college, 
although they may not have immediately in hand the means 
to pay their way through college. 

"I did not work my way through college, although I 
started with only $37.50 and had an indebtedness of only 
$500.00 when I was through. The only money I actually 
made in college was by ringing the bell during half the time 
in my senior year, for which I was paid $10.00 for five months. 

''I am, however, definitely of the opinion that any ener- 
getic boy or girl who is willing to take advantage of oppor- 
tunities that offer can easily make his or her way through col- 
lege by working while at college or during the vacations, or 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 33 

by borrowing whatever money may be necessary and paying 
it back after getting through college. Almost any person 
who is willing to work can get help in this last way." 
Washington City, 
March 28, 1921. 

DE. E. C. BROOKS 

Dr. E. C. Brooks, State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, Raleigh, says: 

"All young people should realize this fact, that everj- 
man is self-made ; that is, every one must use such opportuni- 
ties as are available in developing his own intellectual, moral, 
and material power. This is work. One may grow strong 
and very useful by acquiring knowledge through books and 
using this properly; others, by learning from contact with 
people and working strenuously with people. But in the last 
analysis, all power is the result of hard work. Students in 
college, therefore, who are compelled to support themselves 
wholly or in part while taking advantage of the opportuni- 
ties of a college education may be developing as much capacity 
as those who are more fortunate in being able to defray their 
daily expenses without having to perform work of this kind. 
In fact, it is frequently the case that the former will secure 
the advantage over the latter because of the better habits 
formed. 

"No student, therefore, should be ashamed of the amount 
of work necessary to defray his expenses, for this gives only 
another opportunity to increase one's capacity in a little 
different way. We have only to study the biography of the 
number of men who supported themselves while in college 
and who have succeeded so greatly since leaving college. The 
secret of this success is found in the aim of the student and 
the habits of work formed while seeking to attain that aim. 
If we keep in mind that every man is self-made, we shall have 
greater respect for the legitimate means used by each indi- 
vidual in the making of himself." 
Raleigh, North Carolina, 

May 17, 1921. 



34 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

DE. H. W. CHASE 

Dr. H. W. Chase, President of the University of North 
Carolina, says in part: 

"In reply to your letter of March fifteenth, it seems to 
me that your plan of issuing a booklet outlining some of 
the ways by which a man may work his way through college 
is an excellent one, and I am in hearty sympathy with its 
purpose. 

"I doubt whether young men as a rule realize the many 
possibilities which are open in most of our institutions for 
students who want to work their way. There is to my mind 
no reason why a young man in good health and with a good 
amount of determination and foresight cannot go through 
college on his own resources. I have known so many cases 
in which men have done this, and have come through at the 
end not only with a good education, but with the discipline 
resulting from application and industry, and with the hearty 
respect and admiration of their fellows, that I have come to 
think of working one's way through college not so much as a 
last resort as really a very valuable educational experience. 

' ' To any young man who really wants a college education 
and feels that he has within him the ability to 'stick to his 
guns' in spite of discouragements, I would say, 'Go ahead, 
by all means. You will come out of college at the end with 
an experience that will be of value to you all of your life. 
Do not be afraid that you will be under any handicap in your 
relations with your fellows. So far from discriminating 
against you because you are working your way, they will 
honor you for the fine purpose that you are showing.' 

"I am sending you herewith a statement of some of the 
methods by which men earn their way at the University, and 
also a typical statement of a student's career who has worked 
his way through college." 
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 

March 17, 1921. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 35 
PROFESSOR FREDERICK ARCHER 

Professor Frederick Archer, Superintendent of the Pub- 
lic Schools, Greensboro, writes: 

"I have just finished reading the manuscript of 'How to 
Work Your Way Through College, ' and want to congratulate 
you on the straightforwardness of the narrative as well as the 
achievement recorded therein. I sincerely trust that this will 
be printed in pamphlet form, and will have the wide distri- 
bution throughout the state that, because of purpose and con- 
tent, it deserves. It seems to me that a young man has few 
achievements that he can take a greater pride in than that 
of working his way through college, and I am confident that 
no boy, whatever his circumstances may be, can have a wor- 
thier ambition. 

"I believe that the citizenship of North Carolina most 
heartily approves of higher education ; I believe that the aver- 
age parent whom one meets is determined that his boy or 
girl shall have every help possible and necessary to the secur- 
ing of a college education. But I believe also that it is 
worth while for us to make the attempt to instill into the 
minds of boys and girls of school age that this same North 
Carolina public regards most highly the college student who 
modestly but fearlessly confesses to the determination that he 
is working his way, and this same public has scant regard 
for the boy or girl who is attending a college, and is not only 
wasting his own time and the money of his parents, but is 
taking the place of a more worthy student who yearns for 
his opportunity. 

"A college education is, in my mind, no warrant that 
one's life after college will be successful; but I have yet to 
see any college graduate who worked his way through, who 
is anything other than a most successful citizen, and at the 
same time a most useful one. 

"I sincerely trust that this pamphlet of yours will play 
a great part in inducing a larger number of our boys and 
girls rightly to resolve that 'principalities nor powers nor 



36 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

things present nor things to come' shall interfere with the 
attainment of this worthy ambition. ' ' 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 
April 4, 1921. 

HONORABLE T. W. BICKETT 

The Honorable T. W. Bickett, former Governor of North 
Carolina, sends this message: 

"One message I would send to the youth of the state is 
that reliability is the greatest single asset any man can have. 
It should be the ambition of every young man to have the 
people who know him best say of him : 

" 'He is thoroughly reliable. If he says a thing, you 
can bank on its accuracy; if he promises anything, you can 
count on its performance.' 

"Such a reputation wUl always pay dividends, not only 
in earning power, but also in that peace of mind that is bot- 
tomed on self-respect." 
Raleigh, North Carolina, 

April 26, 1921. 

DR. CHARLES E. BREWER 

Dr. Charles E. Brewer, President of Meredith College, 
Raleigh, sent a cheering message : 

"In reply to yours of the 26th, let me commend you for 
the interest that you show in the matter of making suggestions 
to students about providing the means for their education. 

' ' I did not work my way through college because my par- 
ents lived in a college town. I did work my way through high 
school, however, running errands for the principal, cutting 
his wood and carrying it in, and working the garden. 

"At Meredith College we have opportunities for paying 
part of the expenses by helping in the dining room. For 
example, as much as $90.00 a year may be saved in the cost 
of board. There are a number of positions also open to the 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 37 

students to render assistance in several other ways in the 
institution, thus enabling them to meet other portions of their 
expenses here. 

"One of the most valuable ways in which we can be of 
assistance is to provide a small loan in cash that enables 
students to tide over the hard places. 

"I am greatly interested in the proposition that you are 
making and shall be glad to know of the results." 
Raleigh, North Carolina, 

March 30, 1921. 

ATTORNEY E. D. BROADHURST 

Attorney E. D. Broadhurst, of the Board of Education, 
Greensboro, sends this message : 
"To the boy who really wants a college education: 

"You can — there is little sense in saying you cannot 'go 
off' to college — if you really want to go. In truth, your 
father and mother will have done more than the average part 
when they tell you frankly that they can get along with 
the family expense account without your effort to help. It 
does not take money in pocket for a real boy to get a college 
education; but it does take — 

"First, self-sacrificing parents who are not too 'sot' in 
their ways to dream dreams along with their real boy — par- 
ents able in spirit to look their real boy in the eye and say: 
'Go ahead, my boy, and fight your way out and over your 
present financial handicaps. We will get on without your 
help till you get a college education. Go to college, work, 
and remember: work and character are bound to win — the 
combination is scarce. We're betting on you! We're pray- 
ing for you.' 

"Second, it takes a real boy with nerve, zeal, ambition, 
to rise in spite of present handicaps and in spite of any 
future handicaps that maj^ dare cross the path of his ambi- 
tion. 



38 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

"Third, it takes a real boy, ready, willing, and anxious 
to work — work at anything — just so it be honest work. That 
kind of fellow will recognize a job as waiter in the dining 
room or dishwasher in the college kitchen, wood cutter on 
the college ground, fireman in the furnace room, printer in 
the college printing shop, errand boy about the college, clerk 
in the village store, or watchman about the college, as a real 
opportunity at a real crisis in a real boy's life, and he will 
grab it, 'hook, sinker, line, and all!' In after life, he will 
glory in his self-sacrificing parents and wonder at his own 
nerve and resourcefulness at that early period of his life. 

' ' Generally speaking, the self-sacrificing parents are ready 
to sacrifice ; the college is ready to receive, encourage, counsel, 
the boy — I mean the real boy; the ordinary 'ne'er-do-well' 
boy would do well to stay home — I do not know that a college 
is the place for him. The atmosphere about a college will 
generally sprout a fool about as quickly as it will sprout a 
man, so be careful ; do not go unless you are a real boy. 

"Are you the boy — the real, nervy boy? If so, get up, 
get out, and go to it — ^the opportunity is waiting just a moment. 
Soon you will be too old ; the boyish ambition you now have 
will, in a while, settle, and some other real boy will put on 
the college waiter's apron that was waiting for you and work 
out a college education to serve him and his state in a gen- 
eration made poorer by your lack of a college education." 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 

April 16, 1921. 

DR. JOHN E. CALFEE 

Dr. John E. Calfee, President of the Asheville Normal 
and Associated Schools, writes: 

"Yes, I worked my way through college, and am glad 
that I did. In addition to working three hours a day and 
going to school, I managed to squeeze in two inter-society 
and two inter-collegiate debates; served as president of my 
society one term ; served as assistant editor of the college 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 39 

paper for one year and edited it another. Any boy with 
sound body, mental capacity, and ambition, can work his 
way through college. The boy who does not comes mighty 
near being a fool. The education that one works for tastes 
better than any other kind. With scarcely an exception, it 
means success in later life." 
Asheville, North Carolina, 
March 21, 1921. 

GENERAL JULIAN S. CARR 

General Julian S. Carr, banker and philanthropist, Dur- 
ham, says : 

"Education is the Damascus blade that cuts the Gordian 
knot of the world's great problems. He is to be pitied who 
is found shackled in ignorance by reason of the fact that he 
has failed to equip himself with an education. No sacrifice 
is too great to provide such a necessary accomplishment. Sol- 
omon never wrote a truer proverb than this: 

" 'Knowledge is power.' " 
Durham, North Carolina, 

April 29, 1921. 

PROFESSOR J. H. COOK 

Professor J. H. Cook, of the North Carolina College for 
Women and Director of the Summer School, Greensboro, 
writes : 

"Somehow or other, one always obtains the real necessi- 
ties of life. To the ambitious, capable, earnest-minded young 
person in this progressive age, a college education is a neces- 
sity. Every year increases the complexity of our moral and 
economic problems. The environment will overcome our 
hero, thus revealing a tragedy, or our hero will understand 
and master his environment, thus enabling his friends to 
witness a triumph. 



40 How TO Work Your AYay Through College 

"An ordinary education enabled many wlio are winning 
to-day to win in life because this education was above the 
average of those with whom they competed. An education 
no better will surely foretell the failure of their children 
because educational standards have risen above the average 
of the older day. Adequate preparation in light of tomor- 
row's standard is the price all must pay for success. 

"Success in any new business can be predicted by one's 
success in his old business. The business of a young person 
is that of securing an education that will enter him into life 
with every obtainable advantage. The outward mark of suc- 
cess in education is no less a distinction than that conferred 
by a college diploma. Success in this augurs success in both 
making a living and living a life. Those who overcome the 
financial difficulties of going through college will have already 
recommended themselves to successful men and women. 
You are, therefore, getting into the habit of success. 

"A college education is worth what is put into it. Wis- 
dom and the spirit of work are indispensable to all who suc- 
ceed. Happy is the young person who has to work his way 
through college, thereby acquiring these two qualities simul- 
taneously. 
" 'Couldst thou in vision see thyself the man God meant, 

Thou never more wouldst be the man thou art, content.' " 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 

May 18, 1921. 

LIEUTENANT-GOYERNOE W. B. COOPER 

Lieutenant-Governor W. B. Cooper, of the State of North 
Carolina, Ealeigh, says: 

"Your letter of April 19 is appreciated, and I agree with 
you that it is always inspiring to one young man to know 
the struggles that his friends and acquaintances went through. 
I do not know that I have any special advice to give, but if 
so, I would say to young men: 'Stick to the job, it matters 
not what the difficulties are.' The world, and especially the 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 41 

good people in the world, are always ready to help the boy 
who helps himself. As soon as a young man has finished his 
education and secures a position, I would say, 'Save a little, 
by all means.' 

"When I came to Wilmington from the country, before I 
was twenty-one, my salary was $26.00 a month (and more 
than I was worth at that time) ; but when the fall of the 
year came along, the salary advanced to $35.00 a month; 
and I proceeded to save a little, and that little, from time to 
time, helped me to enter business on my account when the 
proper time came. 

"May I wish you every success in your undertaking?" 
Wilmington, North Carolina, 

April 21, 1921. 

PROFESSOR B. B. DOUGHERTY 

Professor B. B. Dougherty, President of the Appalachian 
Training School, of Boone, says : 

"Poverty is no hindrance to the youth that wishes to 
become great. It is far better for a yomig man to fight his 
own battles and win his OA\ai victories. By so doing, he 
develops strength as well as confidence in himself, and°wins 
the admiration of the people. On the other hand, a young 
man that must be supported from home cannot have much 
confidence in himself, will be weaker the day he graduates 
from college, and will lack the buoyant force necessary to 
success that comes from the people. However hard it may 
at first seem, it is far better for a young man to be pushed 
out upon his own resources at the beginning and earn his 
support, than to be fed by a bounteous hand from a silver 
spoon. 

"Every young man in North Carolina today should be 
thankful that he lives in this age, in this great progressive 
state. There was one time in the history of man when the 
common boy, so to speak, was not considered worthy of an 
education. Human society was fixed like the strata of rock 



42 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

in the mountaiiis. As it is impossible for one stratum to 
rise above another, so it was impossible for a young man 
to rise above that position in life in which Ms birth had placed 
him. If he were the son of a king, he would be king at his 
father's death; but if he were a slave, he must remain a 
slave and be sold with the farm upon which he was born. 
Here in this good old state of ours, society may be compared 
to the waters of the ocean; that which scrubs the bottom 
to-day may ride tomorrow upon the highest wave. This old 
mother state loves every one of her children. She teaches 
them health, morality, industry, and economy, and daily 
points out to our young men the well graded road leading 
from every doorway through the public school, the high 
school, and the university. 

"Though born in a hovel, under a board roof, if a young 
North Carolinian develops a strong body, establishes a good 
character, is courteous to all people, willing to work, earning 
at first more than he receives, he may climb the ladder of 
life, step by step, round by round, until he reaches the high- 
est position in the gift of our people. Every young man is 
largely the architect of his own life; whatever he wills, he 
may do. ' ' 
Boone, North Carolina, 

April 21, 1921. 

PROFESSOR R. L. FLOWERS 

Professor R. L. Flowers, Secretary to the Corporation, 
Trinity College, Durham, writes, with a few omissions, as 
follows : 

" As a rule, a young man who does not get a college edu- 
cation because he does not see the way does not really want 
it bad enough. In other words, he is not willing to pay the 
price. Many of the men who have achieved success have had 
hard struggles to prepare themselves for their life's work, 
but the very struggle itself has very probably been the decid- 
ing factor in their success. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 43 

''I remember a young man who had made up his mind 
that he was going to Trinity College. After the record of 
his preparatory work had been examined, he was told that 
his preparation was deficient and that he could not be 
admitted. A few days before the opening, he came into my 
office, and I asked him if he had not received word that he 
could not enter. He said, 'Yes, I got the letter, but I am up 
here, and I am going to stay. If I cannot get into college, 
I am going to Trinity Park and stay there until I am ready. 
I have seventeen dollars. This is all I have, and I see no 
chance of getting any more. ' 

"He was told that he must go to Trinity Park, and he 
said, 'All right.' He made his appeal to the headmaster, 
and he aided the young man in getting a position, letting him 
go to work Mdthin a few hours. He stayed at Trinity Park 
for two years, and made all his expenses. He then entered 
Trinity College and four years later received his degree. 
When he left college, he had more money than when he 
entered. This is a story that could be told of scores and 
scores of young men. 

"I think I have never known many instances where a 
young man could not get work of some kind if he tried hard 
enough to get it. He seldom asks for aid in getting work, 
but goes out and finds it for himself. If a man has the 
courage and determination that will carry hira through the 
first year in college, the remainder of his college course will be 
much easier. There are many ways by which college students 
may make money in vacations. I have known many college 
students who have been able to make enough in the summer 
vacations to pay the entire expenses of the succeeding year. 

"The whole question is whether or not a young man has 
definitely made up his mind that he is going to get a college 
education. If this question is settled, the hardest part of the 
task has been completed. Scores and hundreds of useful and 
successful men, like the author of this volume, can verify the 
truth of this statement." 
Durham, North Carolina, 

May 9, 1921. 



44 How TO Work Your Way Through College 
DE. W. A. HARPER 

Dr. W. A. Harper, President of Elon College, says, in 
part : 

''I did not work my way through college, though I did 
through the university, and so I hesitate to give you the facts 
in regard to myself. 

"Our students here help earn their expenses by waiting 
on the tables, helping in the administrative offices of the 
college, as assistant librarians, as assistants in the power 
house, about the campus, and as janitors. Quite a number of 
them support themselves in this way every year. They always 
make good in their studies, too." 
Elon College, North Carolina, 

March 18, 1921. 

DR. H. S. HILLEY 

Dr. H. S. Hilley, Dean of the Atlantic Christian College, 
Wilson, says: 

"From my own experience and as a result of my obser- 
vation in the cases of other students, it seems to me that 
working one's way through college is largely a matter of 
will — the will to dare to begin and the will to go at anything 
that offers a chance to earn an honest dollar. In my opinion, 
any student who really wants to get a college education can 
do so by his own efforts during the school year and during 
the vacation periods. If a boy has some training, he may 
earn his way in a shorter time. But even the unskilled at 
any particular work can always find the odd job that will 
pay him." 
Wilson, North Carolina, 

April 18, 1921. 

PROFESSOR M. T. HINSHAW 

Professor M. T. Hinshaw, President of Rutherford Col- 
lege, says: 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 45 

"I am always glad to testify to the fact that I worked 
my way through school. Not only am I glad that I worked 
my way through school, but I am glad that I worked my 
way through ditches, corn field, and harvest field. I well 
remember cutting wheat with an old-fashioned sickle eleven 
days in succession just after coming out of school. It was 
the fastest way I had to get money to pay some bills; so I 
pushed ahead along with other hired men until it seemed that 
my shoulders would pull loose. I am not proud of this fact 
merely for the opportunity of relating it, but I attribute 
the fact of having done a few things that other men have 
failed to do to the habit of work and endurance acquired 
this way. 

"Since leaving school myself, I have been connected with 
an institution that affords me an unusual opportunity to 
observe men and boys who are working to pay their way 
through school. From fifty to seventy-five of the two hun- 
dred and fifty students enrolled at Rutherford College work 
to pay a part or all of their expenses. I attribute the fine 
spirit of work and earnestness of our students very largely 
to this fact. In most instances, the day comes when a stu- 
dent is proud of the fact that he had to make his own way 
while at school." 

Rutherford College, North Carolina, 
April 18, 1921. 

MR. CHARLES H. IRELAND 

Mr. Charles H, Ireland, President of the Odell Hardware 
Company, Greensboro, says: 

' ' This is the greatest day of opportunity to the young man 
who has ambition. There are more avenues of opportunity 
than ever before in the history of time. This is no day for 
the slacker or slothful man. As to the equipment necessary, 
there are just three requisites: 

"Ideal. — You hardly ever reach any place unles.s you 
know just where you are starting for. 



46 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

^'Industry. — There is no such thing as luck or pull in this 
day and time. All the alloy has been extracted. Pure metal 
is currency of the realm. It will be recognized whenever 
shown. No talent is ever so effective as hard work. Effi- 
ciency is what is demanded. There is only one channel 
through which it flows — work. 

"Patience. — We are running everything so rapidly these 
days that we do not give time for fruit to ripen, but pluck 
it before it has had time in which to store up the juices that 
render it palatable, with the result that most people are like 
shipped fruit — green, insipid, or stale. The great business 
world knows a well-developed character as readily as it does 
an apple. Any boy in North Carolina can attain any height 
he may aspire to if he will determine what he wants, is will- 
ing to work for it, and will be patient enough to work while 
he waits for his name to be placed on the roll call of those 
who can do one thing well." 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 

April 9, 1921. 

MR. J. E. LATHAM 

Mr. J. E. Latham, President of the J. E. Latham Com- 
pany, realtors, Greensboro, says much in a few simple words : 

"It was not my privilege to go to college, and the lack 
of college training, education, and association has been a great 
and constant handicap in my struggles for achievement. Let 
me say to any young man, whether he be rich or poor, that 
a college education is an essential thing and worth any price 
that has to be paid, whether the pay is in labor or money." 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 

April 11, 1921. 

DE. E. C. LINDEMAN 

Dr. E. C. Lindeman, Professor of Sociology, North Caro- 
lina College for Women, Greensboro, tells this gripping story : 



IIow TO Work Your AVay Through College 47 

"I began my college course at the age of twenty-one. My 
only previous educational experience was in a small parochial 
school which I left at the age of ten. Both of my parents died 
at about that time, and I was obliged to begin working for 
a living. I worked at various trades and occupations during 
the intervening ten years, and in my spare time I attempted 
to learn the English language. A few very kind friends 
assisted me in my awkward efforts, but the trade which I 
learned, namely, shipbuilding, made such demands upon my 
strength that I made very little progress. 

"In spite of my handicaps, I was possessed with an un- 
quenchable thirst for knowledge, and the hope that I might 
some day secure an education never entirely disappeared. 
During the summer months I usually worked on farms, since 
I loved the open and had inherited a strong rural inclination 
from my father, who was an experienced shepherd in Den- 
mark. It was on an Ohio farm that I was inspired to begin 
college. The 'boss' of the threshing crew with which 1 was 
working appeared to take an interest in me. One night as 
we all sat about the orchard after the day's work was done, 
he came over to me and started talking about agricultural 
colleges. The mental struggles which I passed through after 
he had planted within me the hope of an education are still 
vivid in my memory. That fall I went back to my work in 
the shipj^ard. 

"In the meantime I had laboriously read every page of 
the catalogue of the agricultural college of my native State of 
Michigan. To the great surprise of my fellow workers and to 
myself as well, I suddenly made a bold decision. College was to 
open late in September, and I announced one day to my asso- 
ciates at the lunch hour that I was going to college. At first 
they greeted my announcement with laughter, and finally 
with scorn. But I started off on the day that the catalogue 
said the students were to register. I had accumulated eighty 
dollars ; and although I knew little of a college or its expenses, 
it seemed to me that this was sufficient to make a beginning. 
By the time that my departure arrived, my companions were 
reconciled to my leaving mj- trade, and one of the finest mem- 



48 How TO Work Youe Way Through College 

ories of my life is. the small group of hardened riveters, 
caulkers, reamers, et cetera — hardened but powerful person- 
alities — wishing me luck as I laid down my tools and started 
on the adventure which they could not understand. I have 
never seen one of that old group again, and this I count to 
be one of the losses or sacrifices which education entails. 

"But, alas! My hopes were soon crushed. Upon mak- 
ing application for admittance to the college, I was informed 
that. I could not enter because I had no high school credits. 
There was a state law, however, which made it compulsory for 
this particular college to allow students to enter who had 
been born in the state and had reached the age of twenty- 
one. However, the president politely but firmly informed 
me that it would be a waste of my money to enter; at that 
time he also knew that I did not even have an elementary 
school education. 

"Somehow or other I shall never quite recover from that 
shock. I had thought that any one who really wanted an edu- 
cation could get one; but here I was confronted with such 
obstacles as 'credits,' and I did not even know the meaning 
of the term. My first inclination was to go back to my trade 
and my old companions of the shipyard. But this I could 
not do; a certain pride made it impossible for me to face 
those men who knew me so well. They were a courageous 
lot, and to face them with an admission of failure was a thought 
unbearable. 

"It was golden autumn, and in my depressed mood 
I strolled out upon the college campus and from there over 
the college farm; there I saw some workers cutting and 
shocking corn. As I watched this scene and thought of the 
happy, care-free groups of students strolling or lounging 
about the campus, I was seized with the impulse to get a 
'job' on this farm and at least live in the environment of 
the college. It seemed to me that this would in some measure 
satisfy my pride, and perhaps it might provide the oppor- 
tunity for study in the college library. The very next 
morning I was at work in this same corn field. And, alas, 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 49 

again, that very day I lost my pocketbook with what remained 
of my eighty dollars! 

"The foreman of the college farm took an interest in me 
and at the close of two weeks convinced the president that I 
ought to be given a 'chance.' After much consultation and 
rising and falling hopes, I finally matriculated as a prepara- 
tory student in the agricultural course. I still shudder when 
I recall those first few months of study. I lived in a farm 
home about one mile from the college, and frequently the 
kind mother of this home knocked at my back room door to 
tell me that I ought to go to bed. There were many nights 
when the only sleep which came to me was that of sheer 
fatigue. It was not merely that I was obliged to study such 
subjects as algebra (a name which I had not heard before), 
but there was, in addition, the necessity of securing an income 
to pay my living expenses. At that time there was not a 
single person in the sphere of my acquaintance who cared 
whether I was educated or not; moreover, there was consider- 
erable objection on the part of a few relatives. 

"Fortunately, as is always true, there were kindly hearts 
who saw into my difficulties. The farmer allowed me to do 
chores about the farm for my lodging; the foreman of the 
college dairy herd employed me to care for forty head of 
Holstein cows; one of the professors gave me work as jani- 
tor in the veterinary building. 

"How thankful I am that I possessed a sturdy physique. 
To rise at four in the morning to take care of the cattle and 
to finish cleaning up the veterinary building at nine or ten 
at night, was, in addition to my intense struggles with new 
studies, a strain which called for all the reserve that my 
ten years of hard work had built into my hody. However, 
the studies gradually grew less burdensome, and as I oriented 
myself to the new life, I learned methods of economizing my 
time. 

"That first year of college was not creditable from the 
scholarship standpoint. I failed in algebra and received 
very low marks in other studies. An English teacher gave 
me my only ray of encouragement ; my experiences in life. 



50 How TO Work Tour Way Through College 

coiipled with a very lively imagination, made it possible for 
me to write essays which seemed to please her. There came 
a red letter day ! On a returned theme was this sentence, 
written in red ink : ' Your essay was an oasis in the desert. ' 
I have had many thrills of achievement since that day, but 
none will ever compare to this one. It was the justification 
of all my hopes and all my trials. For days I could scarcely 
realize the great significance of that sentence. It affected 
me so deeply that I remember distinctly the shy manner in 
which I avoided meeting or speaking to this teacher ; I feared 
that she might not have meant it or that she might learn 
how it had disturbed my emotions. 

''Five years after that autumn, I received the diploma 
from this college, and two years after graduation the presi- 
dent of the college invited me to return as a member of his 
staff. I am frequently asked if it is possible to work one's 
way through college and what is required for the task. My 
reply is, ' Courage, a sound body, an unselfish love for knowl- 
edge, and faith. ' One of the chief glories of America is that 
a young man or woman thus equipped need not be denied 
the opportunities of education. ' ' 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 

April 2, 1921. 

PROFESSOR WILLIAM J. MARTIN 

Professor William J. Martin, President of Davidson Col- 
lege, writes : 

"Let no young man or woman conclude that it is impos- 
sible to secure a college education because they are poor. If 
they are mentally able and have driving power sufficient to 
study under difficulties incident to working their way through, 
they can secure the opportunity — if not in one college, then 
in another. 

"They should be students of at least fair ability and 
well prepared. They should have the testimony of those 
who know them that they are really in earnest and worth 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 51 

investing in. If their character and purpose are such as to 
give promise of useful service, a way will open to them. 

"I would suggest to all such as find it possible that it is 
wisest in the long run to finance the first year without having 
to do outside work, even though they have to borrow the 
necessary funds. The first year of college work is the hard- 
est, and the student has less time to devote to outside affairs. 

"Personally, I believe it is wisest and cheapest in the 
long run to borrow, if possible, for all college years sufficient 
funds to prevent the necessity for too much outside work. 
Some work will do good; too much will injure their educa- 
tion. After graduation one can rapidly pay up the debts. 

"Ability, ambition, backbone, and pertinacity, with good 
judgment and good character back of them, will give them 
the chance and insure success as well. ' ' 
Davidson, North Carolina, 

April 7, 1921. 

SENATOR LEE S. OVERMAN 

The Honorable Lee S. Overman, United States Senator 
from North Carolina, writes: 

"I acknowledge the receipt of your highly esteemed favor 
of April 25th stating that you have planned to issue a little 
booklet telling something of your struggles in trying to work 
your way through Trinity College; I wish to congratulate 
you on this, as it will no doubt be of great encouragement 
to other young men who desire a college education and have 
not the means. 

"Along in the seventies, when Trinity was a struggling 
college — as were all the colleges in the state at that time — 
many of the young men who were educated there were men 
whose parents had nothing ; everybody was poor, and a great 
many of those young men had to work on the outside to pay 
for their education. They had a great struggle and worked 
their way through college by teaching during their vacation, 
and in other ways ; and some of these men who actually did 



52 How TO Work Your Way Through ColliEGe 

menial work around the college have now become very prom- 
inent in the state. While I was fortunate enough to be able 
to pay part of my tuition and board, I was compelled to work 
and teach after my graduation in order to repay part of the 
debt I owed in obtaining my education. I can name several 
men who have attained great prominence in the state who 
worked their way through college. This should be an inspi- 
ration to other young men who are aspiring for an education 
and are too poor to pay for the same, to know that many of 
the public men of our state to-day who are now leaders, worked 
their way through college, which fact is all the more credit 
to them and probably had much to do with their success 
in life." 

Washington City, 
May 3, 1921. 

PROFESSOR J. C. PEERY 

Professor J. C. Peery, President of Lenoir College, Hickory, 
says: 

"To all who would make their mark in life, I give this 
advice : 

"Your first step should be to secure a thorough education. 
If you have not sufficient money to pay your way through 
college, do not consider this a handicap ; it may be to you a 
good fortune. 

If you are willing to help yourself, a way can always be 
found. Any college is glad to have such a student and will 
help him. 

' ' The effort put forth in working your way through college 
will be a valuable part of the training which will assure 
future success. If you have not the energy, the patience, 
and grit to work your way through college, you have not the^ 
qualities which will bring success in life. This, therefore, 
becomes not only the first step, but the test of your fitness 
for real success. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 53 

"Then, put away other plans and get an education. Do 
not take a short cut, and do not let anything discourage you. 
Success lies beyond. 

"I myself not only paid all of my expenses through 
college, but had to work very hard to do so." 
Hickory, North Carolina, 

April 28, 1921. 

DR. WILLIAM LOUIS POTEAT 

Dr. William Louis Poteat, President of Wake Forest 
College, gives some splendid suggestions: 

"In reply to your letter of March 16, I am under the 
necessity of saying my father was able to finance my school 
career, so that I have nothing to send you of my personal exper- 
ience for your chapter on working one 's way through college. 
On the other hand, I have seen the thing done so often and 
have observed quite invariably the great advantage of it in 
toughening the fiber of character, in developing a wholesome 
respect for those who toil, and in laying the foundations of 
a serious and successful career, that I have no hesitation in 
recommending it to every young man of purpose and ambition. 

"I agree with a distinguished dean of Columbia Univer- 
sity, however, who was here a few days ago and who says 
that one good method for a man to work his way through 
college is to borrow the money and work it out after his 
graduation ; the method does not interfere with class work 
during the college course, and it makes possible a larger com- 
pensation for work when it does come to be done. I think 
that any young man who is not able to finance his college 
course in any other way is amply justified in using this 
method. 

"Of course, in the institutions located in cities, man}* 
jobs may be found which do not seriously interfere with 
college work. In institutions located in smaller communities, 
the number of such jobs is limited. A number of students in 
Wake Forest College are engaged in working their way 



54 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

through. Many forms of work are open to them, and my 
observation is that no section of the student body is more 
highly respected." 
Wake Forest, North Carolina, 
March 22, 1921. 

DE. EDWIN D. PUSEY 

Dr. Edwin D. Pusey, Superintendent of the Durham City 
Schools, says : 

"By means of co-operative and part-time work, any boy 
or girl can work his or her way through school. At present, 
we have over forty boys in the white high school working 
their way through ; in the colored school, we have about 
eighty pupils, mostly girls, working their way through. 
These pupils attend school part time and work the other, or 
else attend school one week and work the next week." 
Durham, North Carolina, 

March 30, 1921. 

DR. W. C. RIDDICK 

Dr. W. C. Riddick, President of the State College of 
Agriculture and Engineering, West Raleigh, writes : 

"I doubt if there is very much about my experience in 
getting an education to interest or inspire the youth of today. 
I can hardly say that I worked my way through college ; in 
fact, in my day there was little or no opportunity for doing 
this. It is true, however, that I worked on my father's farm 
during vacations. 

"Many times during my college course, I was thoroughly 
discouraged, and the credit for my remaining in college and 
completing my education is, I believe, due to my parents 
rather than myself, who were willing to make any sacrifices and 
always urged me to remain in college, no matter what hard- 
ships it entailed upon them. I, of course, had to practice 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 55 

the strictest economy, and was frequently embarrassed by 
lack of money. In those days, however, practically all students 
with whom I came in contact were poor, and it was a struggle 
for them to remain at college. 

"I have always hoped to see the day when every boy and 
girl will have the opportunity of just as much education 
as they are willing to take, and I believe that day has about 
come. With the numerous opportunities now offered for 
working one's way through college, and the help offered by 
the institutions in the way of loans, scholarships, and the 
like, I believe that any boy or girl who has real ambition and 
energy and who has fortitude to persevere against difficulty 
and hardships can secure an education, unless, as is sometimes 
the case, there is placed upon them the responsibility of 
supporting their families; and this is, to my mind, about the 
only valid reason that a young man of health and average 
mentality can give for not getting that education which will 
enable him to make the most of himself in his own behalf and 
in service to humanity. I urge all young people that, before 
they decide this most important matter, they consider it in 
the light of the future and not give up striving for an edu- 
cation unless they are sure that in the years to come their 
consciences will be clear that they did their duty." 
West Raleigh, North Carolina, 

April 19, 1921. 

DR. GILBERT T. ROWE 

Dr. Gilbert T. Rowe, Editor of the "North Carolina Chris- 
tian Advocate," Greensboro, writes: 

"Trained minds will always direct and control in the 
affairs of the world. Occasionally and at rare intervals, 
there will appear a man who is able to get the necessary train- 
ing without the aid of the schools; but in the great majority 
of cases, a course of study which affords instruction and inti- 
mate contact with the mature minds of teachers is indispen- 



56 How TO Work Your Way Through Colkege 

sable. Only about one leader in a thousand is wholly self- 
trained. 

"The value of the records of men that have worked their 
way through college appears in two things. First, it shows 
that it can be done. All that a great many boys will need 
to know in order to make the attempt themselves is that it 
has been done. Second, after a boy has worked his way 
through school, he does not have to wait until he tries him- 
self out in life to see whether he is going to succeed; he 
enters upon his life work conscious of the fact that he Las 
already succeeded. 

"This word is given quite humbly by one who doubts 
whether he would have had the determination and foresight 
to attempt what Professor Andrews and others have done, 
and rejoices with them in their achievement and also in the 
fact that they are pointing out the way for others to follow. ' ' 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 

May 1, 1921. 

SENATOR F. M. SIMMONS 

The Honorable F. M. Simmons, United States Senator from 
North Carolina, writes, with slight alterations, as follows: 

"I am very glad indeed to know that you are to write a 
booklet telling the story of your successful efforts to obtain 
your present educational equipment. This story is sure to 
be inspiring and helpful. 

"It has always seemed to me in my observation of men 
and affairs that education and knowledge are the strongest 
and most potent weapons when they are held by one who has 
had to fight for and win them through his own work and 
through a desire for them that would not be denied. We have 
had many notable instances of this type of man in the history 
of North Carolina. 

"I hope that you will not forget to send me a copy of 
your booklet as soon as it becomes available for distribution." 
Washington City, 

May 5, 1921. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 57 

DR. S. B. TURRENTINE 

Dr. S. B. Turrentine, President of Greensboro College, 
Greensboro, says: 

"Three essentials to success are self-reliance, industry, 
and economy. The earlier these lessons are learned the better! 
About four-fifths of the successful citizens of our country 
are said to come from the working classes, the larger propor- 
tion of whom represent the rural sections. This fact is doubt- 
less true because the three lessons mentioned can be more 
naturally taught and learned amid simple conditions of rural 
and village life than amid complex cooditions of congested 
centers. 

"Fortunate is the one who learns to 'bear the yoke in 
his youth.' While the youth 'born with the silver spoon in 
his mouth' can win success, yet such youth has more chances 
to fail, because his lot is adapted to dependence, idleness, and 
extravagance. The prime element of education is the devel- 
opment of native talent promoting true self-hood. The prin- 
ciple that work is a blessing is shown in the average success 
of the student whose motto is not love of ease. Any education 
that fails to teach the proper value and use of a dollar is 
defective, whether the student is rich or poor. 

The courage that wins in the work of life-preparedness is 
as praiseworthy as the heroism that wins in the work of life- 
service. ' ' 

Greensboro, North Carolina, 
April 25, 1921. 

PRESIDENT C. G. VARDELL 

Professor C. G. Vardell, President of the Flora ]\racdonald 
College, writes: 

"Your letter received, and I did work my way through 
college and seminarv% both. 

"My preparatory work was done at Oberlin College, at 
which place I was for some time janitor of one of the school 



58 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

buildings, washing windows, sweeping, making fires, and 
carrying out ashes. As you possibly know, a large number 
of the young people at Oberlin do this type of work. My 
college is Davidson. At that time, there was very little oppor- 
tunity for a student to do anything to help himself except 
the ringing of the bells, and this work always went to the 
seniors. However, I put in my summers at one kind of work 
or another. One of them was making the first catalogue for 
the Davidson College Library. I went from there to Prince- 
ton Seminary and ran a boarding club, thus making my own 
board. 

"I will say that any live, wide-awake, willing boy or girl, 
who can raise enough money to pay expenses during the first 
year at college, will, with the assistance of the college and 
opportunities offered for self-help, be able to win through. 
The colleges are realizing more and more that their duty is 
to make men and women — and not money. They are, there- 
fore, most unwilling to let any good material escape without 
the very best possible preparation for future work. ' ' 
Red Springs, North Carolina, 

March 26, 1921. 

DR. L. A. WILLIAMS 

Dr. L. A. Williams, of the University of North Carolina, 
tells a true story: 

"I am greatly interested in your letter of March 26, in 
which you propose to issue a little booklet outlining some of 
the ways by which a young fellow may work his way through 
college. As it happens, I fall under that category; and, in 
addition to that, I worked my way through high school also. 
I left home when I was fourteen years of age without a cent 
in the world and with no other resources than a healthy body, 
a strong constitution, more or less of intellectual ability, and 
a fixed determination to get a college education. I was suc- 
cessful in utilizing all four of these resources as means toward 
the accomplishment of my end, and in 1903 received my 
Bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 59 

"111 connection with this matter of a yonng fellow's work- 
ing his way through college, I am often reminded of the 
famous statement of Elbert Hubbard in which he classified 
the recjuisites of the securing of an education as 'inspiration, 
aspiration, respiration, and perspiration.' The implication 
is that there is something highly poetic and romantic al)out 
this procedure. I should like to take this opportunity of 
saying very definitely that there is nothing romantic or poetic 
about working your way through college. There are times 
when it is a mighty prosy affair, and it takes all sorts of 
determination and persistence to carry the thing through. I 
somehow have a feeling that the last one of Elbert Hubbard's 
requisites is perhaps the most necessary of all — perspiration. 

"In the course of my working my way through, I believe 
I made one very serious error. I worked so many hours 
caring for furnaces and working in a printshop that I found 
very little opportunity and had very little energy for enter- 
ing into the college activities other than regular class work. 
I am very thoroughly convinced now that this was a mistake. 
I ought to have carried fewer courses if necessary and taken 
longer than four years to do my college work and have entered 
into the college activities outside of regular course work to 
a very much greater extent than I did. I often feel that 
one of the largest contributions to a young man's college edu- 
cation is found in the contacts which he establishes through 
extra-classroom college life. To be sure, there is the danger 
that a young fellow may overdo this side of his college career. 
I made the mistake of overdoing the other side. I can hon- 
estly say that, in the light of my experience, if I had the 
chance to start over, I should have no hesitation about taking 
five years, even six years, to complete my course requirements 
and spending more time in dramatics, debating, athletic, and 
musical activities. 

"I don't know whether there is anything in the above 
statements which will be of any use to you; but if there is, 



60 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

you are at liberty to use it as you see fit. Please be sure to 
send me a copy of the booklet when it is published. ' ' 
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 
April 2, 1921. 

MR. J. NORMAN WILLS 

Mr. J. Norman Wills, Chairman of the Board of Education 
of Greensboro and Secretary-Treasurer of the Odell Hard- 
ware Company, sends this thoughtful message: 

' ' To every young man or woman, the one important thing 
in this world — and the next — is character. Upon it depends 
usefulness, standing, happiness, and destiny. 

"The process of character formation is one of response 
to influences. To the young child, the influences of heredity 
and environment come unsought, leaving him without choice ; 
but soon he may discriminate to a greater or less degree. To 
select the right influences, and to respond properly to them, 
will result in a strong, righteous character. 

"No influence during the formative period is more potent 
than the school. The young man or woman who Avould derive 
the greatest good from this vital factor must not be content 
without a college course of the right sort. 

"Here the power of discrimination must be exercised, and 
that institution selected which, by reason of its traditions, 
its courses of study, the character of its students, and, most 
especially, the personnel of its faculty, exercises those influ- 
ences which appeal to young life to make of itself the very 
best. 

"No doubt the young student contemplating a college 
course would feel it a great advantage if his parents could, 
and would, supply him lavishly with money, so he could attend 
the college which he would prefer — usually an expensive one — 
and have no care as to the bills ; and would have every oppor- 
tunity to engage in the numerous activities, and indulge in 
the numerous diversions, which are supposed to belong to 
college life. But would this comparatively easy jaunt through 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 61 

college make for character? That student who, on his way 
to and through college, most constantly facing difficulties 
caused by poverty— what is his chance of attaining his impor- 
tant goal, as well as the ultimate one of making a success 
of, rather than in, life? 

The fact that he determines to overcome these difficulties, 
and to make every possible sacrifice himself, rather than to 
expect an undue degree of sacrifice on the part of others, indi- 
cates the spirit of true manhood and womanhood. 

"Following this out means the development of those ele- 
ments of strength which will result in the attainment of a 
worthy ambition— a life which will be a blessing to all whom 
it may touch, and which will bring happiness and true 
success. ' ' 

Greensboro, North Carolina, 
April 14, 1921. 

PROFESSOR 0. V. WOOSLEY 

Professor 0. V. Woosley, Sunday-school Field Secretary 
of the Western North Carolina Conference, Lexington, writes : 

"My father, a Methodist circuit rider, had sent me through 
high school and had informed me that because of his limited 
salary and number of other boys and girls in our home, it 
would be impossible for him to help me further in my efforts 
to get an education. We were living out in the country, 
thirteen miles from a railroad, and there was nothing else 
to do but to rent some ground and raise cotton and corn. 
The corn went to feed the circuit rider's horse, and most of 
the cotton went to pay the fertilizer bill. There was a living 
in this work — if the teaching of a little country school during 
the winter at twenty-five dollars a month for four months 
were added to it. 

"One day, a hot day in August, about two o'clock in the 
afternoon, while the sun and the stinging worms were doing 
a big business, it occurred to me that what I needed was less 
fodder and more education. So emphatically I said to myself 



62 How TO Work Your Way Through College 

out loud as I stamped my foot down in the loose ground: 

" 'I am going to college!' 

"The following winter was spent in teaching a little 
country school and the following summer in selling fruit 
trees. When fall came, all available funds had been invested 
in expenses while canvassing, and no deliveries had yet been 
made. My Sunday-school teacher loaned me twenty-five 
dollars to get to college, and all bills were held in abeyance 
until the fruit trees were delivered. Two weeks during the 
first fall in college were spent in delivering my orders; in 
fact, every fall witnessed such a circumstance, for I was a 
fruit tree agent during the summers and a student and all 
sorts of an agent during the school terms. I represented 
various mercantile firms at the college during the week and 
on Saturdays went to the nearby city and sold goods by main 
strength and awkwardness. 

"On graduation day, I had paid what I had borrowed 
from my beloved Sunday-school teacher, had paid all claims 
at the college, and had a gold watch and forty dollars in 
money. I had worked my way through college and cleared 
a bit of money. I felt mighty important. To get properly 
in my stride, I went back to selling fruit trees during the 
summers and teaching school during the winters till finally 
my teaching and supervising demanded all my time. 

"Any boy can go through college if he will just let the 
stinging worms get after him on a hot day in August." 
Lexington, North Carolina, 

May 18, 1921. 

DR. JOHN C. WOOTEN 

Dr. John C. Wooten, Presiding Elder in the North Caro- 
lina Conference of the Methodist Church, Raleigh, says : 

"I am glad that you have undertaken to make it plain 
to all young people that they can get a college education if 
they will. There is too much undeveloped ta lent in our state. 



How TO Work Your Way Through College 



63 



And something should be done regularly to discover and 
inspire these young folks. 

"It is a magnificent task you have set for yourself, and 
I trust that this expression of your faith and work' may 
cause many others to develop themselves in our schools and 
colleges. All ministers and educators should constantly seek 
and be finding these choice young people." 
Raleigh, North Carolina, 

April 13, 1921. 



JOS. J. STONE & CO., PRINTERS, GREENSBORO, N. C. 



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